CHAPTER 4

PART 4.1
Explain the basic concepts of single and multistage of
liquid-liquid extraction.
Able to draw ternary phase diagram, locate and read
the composition of mixture on the diagram.
Use ternary phase diagram and equation for calculate
the composition of the product from liquid-liquid
extraction for single and multistage liquid-liquid
extraction.
 For example : Mixture of water & vinegar will produced
homogenous mixture
Mixture of water & oil will produced heterogeneous mixture
 When C
Component mixed with
A will A & B, C
separate will pull
form B away A
from B
Miscible
solvent C
or
immiscible
or partially
miscible

A will extracted from B by

C
 Washing dirty clothes
 Separating coconut milk (santan)
 Separating iron powder from its mixture with sand
 Extracting oil from vegetables
 Extracting essential oil from herbs
 Removing dirt from tile
 Extract color and flavor from coffee bean
 Extract color from pandan leaves
 Separation of
Separation of
catalyst from
aliphatic/aro
Recovery of reaction
matic BTX
acetic acid from product
Separation of
dilute solution
essential oil
& recovery of
phenol

Recovery of active Copper

compound & production &
vitamin purification of
purification phosphoric acid

Extraction
Washing acid & in Purification of
base industry uranium
If the constituents of a liquid solution have close
boiling points or close vapor pressures.
If the constituents of a liquid solution have relative
volatility near unity (1).
If the distillation utilizes an excessive amount of
steam.
If the constituents of a liquid solution form an
azeotropic mixture or non-ideal mixture
If one or more of the components involved is sensitive
to heat.
Main disadvantages is that the extract phase has to be
treated further (usually by distillation) in order to
separate A from the solvent.
OCT 2012
State the guidelines when separation using
liquid-liquid extraction method is preferred
over the distillation method.

(5 marks)
 C
Solvent

A and C
Extract layer
A and B
solution

A and B
Raffinate layer
 A and C Extract layer
Extract layer • Mainly C, extracted A and dissolved B

Raffinate layer
A and B • Mainly B, leftover A and dissolved C
Raffinate layer

If C is lighter than B, extract layer becomes light phase

and solution becomes heavy phase and vice versa
 A and C Extract layer
Extract layer • Mainly C and extracted A

Raffinate layer
A and B • Mainly B and leftover A
Raffinate layer

If C is lighter than B, extract layer becomes light phase

and solution becomes heavy phase and vice-versa
 If B is lighter A dissolves in
Solution (A + B) than C, feed B both B & C. A
mixed with will be lighter need to
solvent C & form phase, solvent redistribute
‘intermediate’ heavy phase between B & C

Intermediate Law of solubility

will form 2 A in B comes into
close contact equilibrium
different represented how
distinct phase with solvent C
from light phase much A can
(raffinate & dissolves in B &
extract) to heavy phase
C
Raffinate
(mainly B ) & Not all A transfer
extract( mainly to C, some still
C and extracted remain with B
solute A
 A and C A and C
Extract layer Intermediate Extract layer
Shake the
form (light
mixture
A and B phase bubble A and B
Raffinate through heavy Raffinate
layer phase) layer

A will transfer to Mass

A and C solvent phase, transfer A and C
Extract layer until A occur during Extract layer
accumulate in bubbling
solvent, rate process (A
A and B A and B
returning to mostly
Raffinate Raffinate
solution increase concentrate
layer layer
d in solution
phase)
rate mass transfer of A from solution to solvent = rate mass transfer of A
from solvent to solution ( solubility equilibrium)
Diagrams that represent the equilibrium between the various
phases that are formed between three components, as a function
of temperature. This type of diagram is three-dimensional but is
illustrated in two-dimensions for ease of drawing and reading.
Instead of being a rectangular plot, it is a triangle.

Right-angle triangular diagram Equilateral triangular diagram

 A

APEX
100 % A

TIE LINE
RAFFINATE P
EXTRACT
HALF-DOME W HALF-DOME
Q
Z
R RIGHT
LEFT CORNER
CORNER 100 % C
100 % B B C
 A,B & C = Solute A, solution B & solvent C

 APEX 100% A = Normally solute A will be apex axis

 RAFFINATE HALF-DOME = Contain mostly component B (diluents rich

phase)

 EXTRACT HALF-DOME = Contain mostly solvent C (solvent rich phase)

 LEFT CORNER 100% = Contain 100% component B & mostly component B

 RIGHT CORNER 100% = Contain 100% solvent C & mostly solvent C

 REGION K = Outside dome-one phase region (homogenous mixture/one-

phase ternary solution)

 REGION R = Inside dome-two phase region (heterogeneous mixture/two-

phase ternary solution (raffinate + extract)
 PLAIT POINT P = Separate the dome into two half-domes (the left &
the right half)

 POINT W & Z = Represented as intermediate phase which quickly

separated into two insoluble phase which are raffinate & extract
phase

 POINT Q = Connect point W & Z and represented as equilibrium

composition between raffinate & extract phase

 TIE LINE WZ = Connect the left dome & the right dome & connect
the equilibrium compositions of the raffinate & extract phases

 BASELINES AB, BC, AC = Represented a binary solution for

respective component
OCT 2012
A solution of ethylene glycol (EG) and water containing 20 wt% EG is
counter currently extracted with pure furfural to reduce EG concentration
to 9 % (solvent-free). Note that, EG is solute (A), furfural is solvent © and
water is diluent (B). Using the information given, sketch a simple ternary
phase diagram for the EG-water-furfural system. Label the following items
in the diagram.

i. 100 % EG
ii. 100 % furfural
iii. 100 % water
iv. Tie line
v. F
vi. S
vii. Solvent-free raffinate
viii. Mass fraction of EG
ix. Mass fraction furfural
x. R
20,000 kg/h feed solution, F containing 42 wt% EG, 50 wt% water
& 8 wt% Furfural. Locate this mixture on triangular diagram

F
SOLUTION
Horizontal axis = Mass fraction of Furfural (draw vertical
line through 0.08)
Vertical axis = Mass fraction of EG (draw horizontal line
through 0.42)

Intersection between these lines give point F of the

feed solution
 Calculate based on solvent-free basis
 Neglect the presence of solvent in the mixture
& treated as binary mixture
 If solvent component is C, the location of
solvent-free mixture must be on AB baseline
Ethylene glycol (EG) is to be recovered from a feed solution by
means of furfural. An extract phase, E, from an extraction has
the
following composition : 32 wt% EG, 60 wt% furfural & 8 wt%
water. Determine the solvent-free composition of the extract

SOLUTION
Furfural act as solvent, basis = 100g extract
Solvent-free weight fraction of EG = 32/(32+8)
= 0.8
Solvent-free weight fraction of water = 8/(32+8)
= 0.2
Thus, solvent-free composition of the extract, ESF = 80% EG,
20%
water
 2. Draw a straight line from
3.The intersection of this blue
100% furfural through point E
line with EG-water line gives the
to the EG-water line
solvent free composition , ESF

ESF

1. Locate point E on
triangular diagram.
E Point E is a intersection
between horizontal &
RSF vertical axis
1. Identify which component are the solute A,
diluent B, & the solvent C
2. If want to position C on the right corner,
must locate points for the ternary phase
diagram using weight fractions of C on
horizontal axis & weight fractions of A on
vertical axis
3. Normally, ternary equilibrium data are given
on raffinate-extract pair
4. Once draw these points pair-wise, need to
draw tie-lines connecting raffinate & extract
6500 kg/h of an acetone-MIBK solution containing 25 wt%
acetone is counter-currently extracted with water to reduce
acetone concentration to 5% (solvent-free). Draw a right-angle
triangular ternary phase diagram for an MIBK-acetone-water
given the following equilibrium data

SOLUTION
1. Acetone = solute A, water as solvent C, MIBK as diluent B
2. Acetone must be on apex vertical axis, water can be horizontal
axis
3. Locate points on diagram using weight fractions of water &
acetone only, draw them pair by pair to obtain the correct tie
lines
 MIBK-acetone-water system

Equilibrium Tie Lines (in weight fraction)

Water-rich layer MIBK-rich layer
(extract phase) (raffinate phase)
water acetone MIBK acetone MIBK water
0.980 0.000 0.020 0.000 0.977 0.023 Tie line pair 1
0.952 0.026 0.022 0.050 0.923 0.027 Tie line pair 2
0.922 0.054 0.024 0.100 0.870 0.030 Tie line pair 3
0.889 0.085 0.026 0.150 0.818 0.032 Tie line pair 4
0.853 0.119 0.028 0.200 0.763 0.037 Tie line pair 5
0.815 0.155 0.030 0.250 0.707 0.043 Tie line pair 6
0.772 0.195 0.033 0.300 0.647 0.053 Tie line pair 7
0.718 0.242 0.040 0.350 0.582 0.068 Tie line pair 8
0.657 0.292 0.051 0.400 0.512 0.088 Tie line pair 9
0.575 0.352 0.073 0.454 0.420 0.126 Tie line pair 10
0.420 0.440 0.140 0.475 0.300 0.225 Tie line pair 11
Acetone
1.000

0.900

0.800

0.700

0.600
Data from MIBK rich
layer (raffinate phase) Data from water rich
0.500 layer (extract phase)

0.400

0.300

0.200

0.100

0.000
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600 0.700 0.800 0.900 1.000
MIBK water
PART 2.2
Solvent & solution Raffinate & extract
are in contact each are in equilibrium
other only once only once

Mass transfer occur

Solution contain
when solute A cross
binary mixture
interphase boundary
solute A + diluent B
to form new solution
with solvent C
with solvent C

At equilibrium, rate
of A from B to C
=from C to B
 E, Extract phase

F, feed y* A
solution
xF A
Single-stage M, intermediate
S, extracting liquid-liquid
extraction xM A
solvent
yS A
R, Raffinate phase

x* A
 Where,
 F is mass of feed solution in kg, or Ibm
 S is mass of extracting solvent in kg or Ibm
 E is mass of an extract phase in kg or Ibm
 R is mass of a raffinate phase in kg or Ibm
 M is mass of a raffinate phase in kg or Ibm
 x is mass fraction of solute A in solution with B
 y is mass fraction of solute A in solution with extracting
solvent C
 xM is mass fraction of solute A in intermediate phase.
 x* is equilibrium mass fraction of solute A raffinate phase
 y* is equilibrium mass fraction of solute A in extract phase.
Using material balance,
 Calculate the mass of intermediate M using total material
balance:
F + S = M
 Determine mass fraction of solute A in intermediate M using
material balance for solute A:
xF.F + yS.S = M.xM
xM = (xF.F + yS.S) / M
 Using the value of
xM, locate point M on
Draw a straight
Locate points F the FS line. Note
line from F to
and S. that that point M
S.
MUST be on the FS
line.
From the new tie line,
Draw a line that pass locate point E and
through point M. This point R and hence
new tie line must determine the
take shape of the composition of
nearest given tie raffinate, R, and
lines. extract, E that are in
equilibrium.

Once R and E has been Solute A material

determined, masses of balance:
R and E can be
determined using xF.F + yS.S = x*.R +
material balances: y*.E
 Using graph paper, Mass of extract (E) : Mass of raffinate
measures how many (R):
small squares fit the Length of
straight line RM/Length of ER x Mass of
distance from R to (mass of intermediate M –
M & from E to R intermediate M) mass of extract E
100 kg of a solution containing 0.4 mass fraction ethylene glycol
(EG) in water is to be extracted with equal mass of furfural 250C
& 101 kPa. Using the ternary phase equilibrium diagram method,
determine the followings:
a) The composition of raffinate & extract phases
b) The mass of extract & raffinate
c) The percent glycol extracted

SOLUTION
Use the following equilibrium tie-line data 250C & 101 kPa 9in
weight %) to construct the ternary phase diagram
Flow diagram for the process :

Total mass balance :

F+S=M
100 + 100 = M

Determine mass fraction of solute A in intermediate M using

material balance for solute A :
0.4(100) + 0(100) = M.xM

xM = 40/200 = 0.2
 1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
F
0.4

0.3 E
M
0.2

0.1
R
S
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
 Locate points F & S

Draw straight line from F to S

Using calculated value xM = 0.2, locate point M on the FS line. Point M MUST
be on the FS line

Draw a new tie line that pass through point M. This new tie line must take
shape of the nearest tie lines

From new tie line, can locate point E & R, determine the composition of
raffinate, R & extract E
a) From point E, extract phase contains 0.26 mass fraction of EG
From point R, raffinate phase contains 0.075 mass fraction of EG
b) Using material balance :
Total mass balance : F + S = R + E = 200…………………….(1)
EG mass balance : xF.F + xS.S = x*R + y*E
0.4(100) + 0 = 0.075R + 0.26E
40 = 0.075R + 0.26E………….(2)
E = 135.3 kg, R = 64.9 kg
If we use lever rule :
Length of RM = 4.8 cm
Length of ER = 7.0 cm
Mass of extract E = Length of RM/Length of ER x mass of
intermediate M
= (4.8/7.0) x 200
= 137.1 kg
Mass of raffinate R = Mass of intermediate M – Mass of extract E
= 200 – 137.1
= 67.9 kg
c) % EG extracted = mass of EG in extract/mass of EG in feed x 100 %
a) A mixture containing 33 wt% acetic acid, 2 wt%
isopropyl ether & 65 wt% water is treated with equal
weight of recycled solvent which contains 3 wt%
acetic acid in a simple one stage batch extraction
i. What are the solvent-free compositions & weights of
the raffinate & extract layers
ii. Calculate the percent extraction of acetic acid by
isopropyl ether
b. If the raffinate layer from the above treatment is
extracted again with half its weight of solvent, what
will be the solvent-free compositions of new layers?
1.00
Acetic acid

0.90

0.80 E1SF
0.70

0.60

0.50

0.40
F
0.30 R1SF

R1 M
0.20
E1
0.10
S
Isopropylether
0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
1.00

Acetic acid

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
1.00

Acetic acid

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60 Point F

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20
Point S

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
1.00

Acetic acid

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60 Point F

0.50
Point M
0.40

0.30

0.20
Point S

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
1.00

Acetic acid

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60 Point F

0.50
Point M
0.40

0.30

0.20
Point S

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
1.00

Acetic acid

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60 Point F

0.50
Point R1
Point M
0.40

Point E1
0.30

0.20
Point S

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
1.00

Acetic acid

0.90

E1sf
0.80

0.70

0.60 Point F

0.50
Point R1
Point M
0.40

Point E1
0.30

0.20
Point S

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
E11.00
sf
Acetic acid

0.90

E1sf
0.80

0.70

R1sf
0.60 Point F

0.50
Point R1
Point M
0.40

Point E1
0.30

0.20
Point S

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
SOLUTION
Calculate the mass of intermediate M using total material
balance : F + S = M, 100 + 100 = M
Determine mass fraction of solute in intermediate M using
material balance for solute (acetic acid) :
0.33(100) + 0.03(100) = M.xM
xM = 36/200 = 0.18
To determine solvent-free composition of extract E1, construct a
straight line from 100 % solvent (ether) through point E1 to the
acetic acid-water binary side. Thus the solvent-free composition
of extract as given by point E1SF is 76 % acetic acid. The solvent-
free composition of raffinate is given by point R1SF = 0.27
Total mass balance :
F + S = R + E = 200………..(1)
Total mass balance EG :
xF.F + xS.S = x*R + y*E
0.33(100) + 0 = 0.26R + 0.13E
33 = 0.26R + 0.13E…………….(2)
Substitute E = 200 – R into (2)
33 = 0.26R + 0.13(200 – R)
33 = 0.26R + 26 – 0.13R
0.26R – 0.13R = 33 – 26
0.13R = 7
R = 53.85 kJ/kg, E = 146.15 kJ/kg
(ii) % of extraction acid = y*.E/xF.F x 100 %
= 0.13 x 146.15/0.33 x 100 x 100 %
= 18.9995/33 x 100 % = 57.57 %
OCT 2012
A mixture containing 30 wt% acetic acid and 70 wt % water is
treated
with equal weight of recycled solvent which contains 4 wt %
acetic acid in
a simple one stage batch extraction. Using acetic acid-water-
isopropyl
ether phase diagram in Appendix 2,

i. Calculate M and xM
ii. Determine the solvent-free compositions of the extract
phase and raffinate phase
iii. Determine the composition of raffinate and extract phase
iv. Calculate the weight of the raffinate and extract phase
1.00

Acetic acid

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10

0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00
PART 2.3
 Solvent and solution come into contact more than
once. The solvent and the solution, which flow
opposite (countercurrent) to each other, mix on
stages inside an extractor.
 Resulting extracts and raffinates are in equilibrium.
 Sincethey are many stages inside an extractors, the
extracts and the raffinates will reach equilibrium
more than once.
F kg/h feed solution E kg/h final extract
xF A yE A
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4

Stage n-2
Stage n -1
Stage n
Stage n+1

S kg/h extracting solvent R kg/h final raffinate

yS A xR A

xF - mass fraction of solute A in feed

xR – mass fraction of solute A in final raffinate
yE - mass fraction of solute A in final extract
yS - mass fraction of solute A in final solvent
 Numbering of stages begin at the top down to the bottom
 Topmost stage is named stage 1, the stage directly below stage 1 is
stage 2 & so on
 Consider the nth stage of the extractor in figure below:

Rn-1 kg/h diluent-rich phase from stage n-1 En kg/h solvent-rich phase from stage n
yn* A
xn-1 A

Stage n

En+1 kg/h solvent-rich phase from stage n+1 Rn kg/h diluent-rich phase from stage n
yn+1 A xn* A
 When
accumulated A in
Solvent rich- Mass transfer
solvent-rich
phase (En+1) from occur (A More A
reaches a certain
stage n+1 and molecules from molecules are
limit,
diluent-rich phase the diluent-rich accumulating in
accumulated A in
(Rn-1) from stage phase migrate to the solvent-rich-
solvent-rich
n-1 mix on stage the solvent-rich phase
phase starts
n phase)
returning back to
diluent-rich phase

Rate of A
Mass fraction of transferring from
A in equilibrium diluent-rich phase
Out-flowing new New diluent-rich
diluent-rich = xn* to solvent-rich
diluent-rich (Rn) & phase and
& mass fraction phase = rate of A
solvent-rich (En) solvent-rich
of A in transferring from
phases are in phase emerge
equilibrium solvent-rich
equilibrium from the stage n.
solvent-rich = phase back to
yn*. diluent-rich
phase.
R2 kg/h diluent-rich phase from stage n-1 E3 kg/h solvent-rich phase from stage n
y3* A
x2 A

Stage 3

S4 kg/h solvent-rich phase from stage n+1 R3 kg/h diluent-rich phase from stage n
y4 A x3* A

 Replace Stage n to Stage 3, so diluent R2 from stage 2 mix with

extract E4 from stage 4 on stage 3
 Mass transfer occurred resulting new diluent phase R3 & new
solvent phase E3 that leaves stage 3 in equilibrium
 Raffinate-extract pair leave the same stage are in equilibrium,
so E1 in equilibrium with R1 & so on
5000kg/h of a solution containing 35 % by weight ethylene glycol in
water is to be reduced to 2 % (solvent-free basis) by continuous
extraction in a countercurrent column using pure furfural as the
extracting solvent. If 1500 kg/h furfural were used, how many ideal
stages are required? The following ternary phase diagram is
provided
SOLUTION
F = 5000 kg/h feed solution E kg/h final extract
xF = 0.35 yE = ?
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4

Stage n-2
Stage n -1
Stage n
Stage n+1
S = 1500 kg/h extracting solvent R kg/h raffinate
yS = 0 xR = 0.02 (solvent free)

1. Use material balance to determine xM (mass fraction of A in

intermediate M)
F+S=M
5000 + 1500 = M
0.35(5000) + 0(1500) = xM.M
xM = 0.269
2. Locate points F & S & draw a straight line connecting F & S. This is FS line as
shown in diagram
3. Using calculated value of xM, determine the position of M. Point M must
reside on FS line since F + S = M as shown in above equation
4. Locate point Rsf (Rsf = solvent free raffinate) & draw a straight line connecting
Rsf to 100% solvent C. Intersection of this line with raffinate half-dome(left-
half dome) is point R as shown in diagram
5. From total mass balance (F + S = M & F + S = E + R, so M = E + R) we know that
M is sitting on a straight line connecting E to R. Since you know where R & M
are, you can determine point E by drawing a straight line from R to M & then
extend it to the extract half-dome (right half dome) to locate point E as
shown in diagram
6. Note that unlike for a single-stage extraction, line ER in multi-stage extraction
is NOT a tie line because E & R is not equilibrium (they do NOT leave from
the same stage)
7. From total mass balance :F + S = E + R
8. As you may have discovered, equation above simply says that line FS intersect
with line ER at a common point & the common point happens to be an
intermediate M : F + S = E + R = M
9. So if we rearrange equation above, we obtained :F – E = R – S
10. Rearrange equation above to obtain F - E = R – S
11. So, line FE & line RS will also intersect at certain common
point outside the triangular diagram at that common point is
∆ (delta)
12. ∆ (delta) can be locate by drawing a straight line from F to E
& then extend this line outside the curve.
13. Draw a straight line RS & extend this line outside curve &
intersect this RS line with the extension FE line before
14. Point of intersect is called point ∆ (delta-net flow outward at
the last stage N)
15. Point ∆ (delta) should be located outside of the triangular
diagram & the location of this point depend on the slope of
the FE line.
*Slope FE line (+) sloping upward = point ∆ (left)
*Slope FE line (-) sloping downward = point ∆ (right)
16.Value of mass fraction of solute A can read from the
intersection of those lines (RS∆ & FE∆) with raffinate
half-dome(x) & extract half-dome (y) will yield two
pairs of x-y points.
17.F & E are streams enter & leave the topmost stage,
while R & S are streams enter & leave the
bottommost stage
18.Now have two endpoints for the operating lines. In
order to draw the operating line, need more points
on the operating line. To find more points, simply
draw as many straight lines as you wish & read off
their respective x & y as long as these lines pass
through point ∆ & they are drawn within lines RS∆ &
FE∆ as shown in diagram
19. The following table shows the point on the equilibrium curve
(obtained from the tie-line from graph or from data ternary
system)
Line X (mass fraction Y (mass fraction
of A in of A in extract)
raffinate)
Tie –line 1 0.000 0.000
Tie-line 2 0.020 0.085
Tie-line 3 0.055 0.145
Tie-line 4 0.070 0.210
Tie-line 5 0.080 0.290
Tie-line6 0.140 0.420
Tie-line 7 0.310 0.500
Tie-line 8 0.510 0.510
20. The following table shows all points for the operating line (obtained from
intersection between lines with raffinate & extract line)

Line X (mass fraction Y (mass fraction

of A in of A in extract)
raffinate)
1 0.390 0.500
2 0.320 0.440
3 0.240 0.350
4 0.190 0.290
5 0.140 0.210
6 0.100 0.140
7 0.065 0.080
8 0.020 0.005

21. Now have 2 data set to draw Mac-Cabe diagram, firstly draw equilibrium
curve, follow by operating line & finally step up from bottom to
determine the number of ideal stages. Each step represents an ideal
stages
 1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

E
0.5

0.4
F

0.3 M

0.2

0.1
Rsf R S
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
 0.6

Equilibrium curve
0.5
1

0.4
2

0.3
y

Operating Line

0.2 3

0.1

4 Number of ideal stages = 4

0
-0.1 6E-16 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
x
PART 2.4
 Minimum solvent flow rate or minimum solvent amount need
to be determine in specified extraction
 Minimum solvent flow rate/amount happened when an
operating line touches the equilibrium curve at which
separation requires infinite number of ideal stages
 Driving force for separation could be affected by the distance
from an operating line to the equilibrium curve

Shorter distance, lower

Larger distance, greater driving F, difficult to
driving F, easy to separate, separate, higher number of
lower number of ideal ideal stages
stages
 Locate position of point F & S on triangular diagram

Draw best tie lines originate from F. Intersection of this line with extract half-
dome is point Emin

Draw a straight line from point Emin to point R

Intersection of this line with FS gives point Mmin. From point Mmin can read value
of xMmin

Using value of xMmin to calculate Smin

 Overall efficiency of extraction column:

number of ideal stages x 100 %

number of real stages
5000 kg/h of a solution containing 25 % by weight ethylene
glycol in water is to be reduced to 5 % (solvent free) by
containing extraction in a countercurrent column using furfural
as the extracting solvent
a) Determine the minimum solvent flow rate for the extraction
above
b) If the solvent enters at twice the minimum solvent rate, how
many ideal stages are required?
c) Determine the number of real stages if the overall efficiency
of the column is 60 %
SOLUTION (a)
1. Find the positions of point F & S on a triangular diagram
2. Draw the best tie line that originate from F. the intersection
of this line with extract half-dome is point Emin (minimum
extract flow rate/amount).
3. Draw a straight line from point Emin to point R. The
intersection of this line with FS gives point Mmin. From point
Mmin you can read the value of xMmin
4. Using the value of xMmin, use material balance to calculate
Smin. From the graph, the value of xMmin = 0.2
Total material balance :
5000 + Smin = Mmin
Material balance of EG :
0.25(5000) = xMmin (Mmin)
Mmin = 1250/0.20 = 6250
Smin = Mmin – 5000 = 6250 – 5000 = 1250 kg/h
F = 5000 kg/h feed solution E kg/h final extract
xF = 0.25 yE A

Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4

Stage n-2
Stage n -1
Stage n
Stage n+1

S = 2Smin kg/h extracting solvent R kg/h final raffinate

yS = 0 xR = 0.05 (solvent free)
b) Using material balance xM is determined & hence point M
5000 + 2(Smin) = M…………………(1)
0.25(5000) + 0 = xM.M……………..(2)
M = 5000 + 2(1250)
M = 7500
Substitute M = 7500 into (2) :
0.25(5000) = xM.(7500)
xM = 0.17
5. Determine point E & thus point ∆ can be located at the
intersection of extension of line FE & extension of line RS
6. Determine x-y points for equilibrium curve & operating line
7. On Mac-Cabe diagram, draw the equilibrium curve &
operating line
0.60 = ?/number of real stages
0.60 = 2/number of real stages
number of real stages = 3.33 ≈ 3
 1
EG
0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

Emin
0.5

0.4

0.3
F
Mmin
0.2 x
min

0.1Rsf
R
S
0
0 water 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 Furfural 1
 0.600

Equilibrium curved
0.500

0.400
Number of ideal stages = 2

0.300
y

1
0.200
Operating line

0.100

2
0.000
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600
x